Council shuts down asylum seeker flats rumour

The Old Technical School at the junction of Blackburn's Union Street and Knott Street was converted into flats in 2014

A council has said there is no truth to rumours it has bought a building to house asylum seekers.

Blackburn with Darwen Council denied claims it had bought the Old Technical School in Blackburn, saying it wanted to quell any "worry, fear and disruption".

The Victorian Gothic building, on the corner of Union Street and Knott Street, was converted into flats in 2014.

While the town has been a dispersal area for asylum seekers and refugees for more than two decades, no asylum seekers are currently housed in hotels in the borough, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Rumours and speculation'

In a statement, the council said: "We're aware of a rumour circulating that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has bought the former Technical School building in Union Street.

"The rumour claims the council is moving tenants out and intends to use the building to house asylum seekers.

"This simply isn't true. The council does not own the building. The council has not bought the building. There are no plans for asylum accommodation of this nature in our borough.

"Additional information following other rumours and speculation, we can confirm that there are no asylum seekers staying in any of our borough's houses of multiple occupancy.

"We know how quickly things like this can spread, but false information can cause real worry, fear, and disruption in our community."